'Man Utd panic will have set in for Ruben Amorim – Sir Jim Ratcliffe is bound to be twitchy'

Shay Given believes Ruben Amorim has every reason to be panicking about his Manchester United future during the upcoming international break. United host Sunderland at Old Trafford in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon, with the fixture being a must-win game for theincreasingly under-pressure Red Devils head coach.

Despite spending considerable money on exciting new players in the summer transfer window, Amorim's men have kicked off the 2025/26 campaign just as woefully as they ended the previous season.

They are currently down in 14th following the3-1 defeat at Brentfordlast weekend, which marked their third league loss of the season. With the defeat coming straight off the back of a narrow win against Chelsea, the Portuguese is still yet to secure back-to-back league victorieswith United, reflecting the rollercoaster and emotionally taxing nature of his almost year-long tenure for everyone involved with the club.

United's minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his Ineos team will have plenty to ponder irrespective of this weekend's Sunderland result, after which there's the international break. Whether they choose to stick with Amorim or cut their losses and start again with a new appointment remains to be seen.

However, former Manchester City goalkeeper Given has delivered a stark warning to Amorim by emphasising how football club owners often make choices to axe managers during international breaks, claiming that's when they become "twitchy."

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The pundit told Ladbrokes at the launch of Ladisfaction: “In terms of Amorim’s future… look, it’s Sunderland next, and you’d have to say that’s a huge game for him and the team, at home. If he doesn’t win that, then I’d imagine he’ll be under severe pressure.

"Especially because after that game, it’s Liverpool away, after the international break, and you can’t see much coming from that. And most managers will tell you, if they’re under pressure and there’s an international break coming up, you’re panicking a little bit about your future.

"A lot of owners get a bit twitchy, especially when there’s a break in the calendar and things aren’t going well… you can’t stress how important that Sunderland game is for Amorim’s future, really.

“If I’m being honest, I really hope he pulls through, because he comes across as a really charismatic guy with a lot of good traits. He’s got personality, he’s got a glint in his eye which I feel like a lot of previous managers haven’t had.

“But he’ll know this is a results business; it’s about getting points on the board and climbing up the table. He’s had a full pre-season with the team now and he’s been able to bring in a lot of players this summer, but we haven’t seen an improvement in results…”

Amorim's future has sparked plenty of discussion in recent weeks. The sight of the despondent manager slumped on the touchline with his head buried in his hands has become the defining picture of his reign.

Various reports have suggested the likes of Xavi, Gareth Southgate, Andoni Iraola and Oliver Glasner have been lined up as replacements, which, if true, would signal the end of his Old Trafford nightmare.

But, for now, Amorim remains unfazed about his future at Old Trafford. He put on a brave face after the Brentford defeat and said: "I am never concerned about my job. I am not that kind of guy. It is not my decision. I will do the best I can every minute I am here."

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